Air pressure management device for vehicle tire and vehicle tire capable of outputting air pressure information

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication device includes an electric power generation unit, an electric power accumulation unit, a sensor supplied with the electric power from the electric power accumulation unit, and a wireless communication unit supplied with the electric power from the electric power accumulation unit, for transmitting the sensed information outputted by the sensor to outside of the wireless communication device. A storage unit stores the sensed information outputted by the sensor. A control unit controls operation of the wireless communication unit, the sensor and/or the storage unit in accordance, at least in part, with the electric power accumulated in the electric power accumulation.

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/859,438, filedAug. 19, 2010, which in turn claims the benefit of Japanese PatentApplication No. 2009-192473 filed on Aug. 21, 2009, the contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an air pressure management device for avehicle tire and a vehicle tire capable of outputting air pressureinformation.

2. Description of Related Art

In recent years, an insufficient tire pressure has been drawingattention as a cause of a traffic accident, and various proposals aremade under a trend of mandatory installation of a tire pressuremonitoring system (TPMS). For example, in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open No. 2008-86190, there is proposed an installation of acommunication device, which is supplied with electric power for itsoperation by an electrostatic-induction type electric power generatoremploying an electret for generating electric power by vibrations of avehicle, and which detects tire air pressure and internal tiretemperature and outputs the detected tire air pressure and internal tiretemperature through wireless communication, on the tire or a tire wheelof the vehicle. Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.2009-33809 may be cited as another related technical document.

However, a practical air pressure management device for a tire and apractical vehicle tire capable of outputting air pressure informationstill have many problems to be overcome, including a problem with powersupply inside the tire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention hasan object to provide a practical air pressure management device for atire and a practical vehicle tire capable of outputting air pressureinformation.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present inventionprovides a vehicle tire including: a ferroelectric member including aplurality of floating electrode portions arranged in a line on onesurface thereof; a movable member including a plurality of electretportions stably maintaining a surface electric potential ofapproximately 100 volts at a temperature of 100° C. and a plurality ofopposed electrode portions, the plurality of electret portions and theplurality of opposed electrode portions being arranged in a linealternately so as to face the plurality of floating electrode portions,the movable member being supported by the ferroelectric member so thatthe plurality of electret portions and the plurality of opposedelectrode portions are moved by an external vibration in parallel to theplurality of floating electrode portions; an air pressure sensorsupplied with electric power generated by the movable member; and awireless communication unit supplied with the electric power generatedby the movable member, for transmitting air pressure data detected bythe air pressure sensor to an outside. As a result, a battery-lessvehicle tire having an air pressure detection function that ispractically used under severe conditions which a vehicle may undergo maybe provided.

It should be noted that other features, elements, steps, advantages, andcharacteristics of the present invention will become more apparent fromthe following detailed description of a preferred embodiment andaccompanying drawings relating thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an air pressuremanagement device system for a tire according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic cross sectional views illustrating adetailed structure and functions of an electret-vibration electric powergeneration unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating a chargingprocess of electrets;

FIG. 4 is a basic flowchart illustrating a function of a vehicle controlunit according to the example of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a function of a processing unit of atire according to the example of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating details of Steps S8 and S14 of FIG.4;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating details of Step S96 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating detail of Step S32 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an air pressuremanagement device system for a tire according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The air pressure management device system for a tireaccording to this example is centered around a vehicle 2 which is anyone of a gasoline engine vehicle, an electric vehicle, and a so-calledhybrid vehicle employing both a gasoline engine and a motor, and is asystem cooperating with a fuel/electricity feed station 4. The vehicle 2illustrated in FIG. 1 has a structure of a hybrid vehicle as an example.

The vehicle 2 includes a vehicle control unit 6 constituted by acomputer for controlling the entire vehicle 2, which controls a vehiclefunction unit 8 in response to an operation of a driver of the vehicle2. Main functions of the vehicle function unit 8 are supply of travelpower and travel control of the vehicle 2, such as turning control, andthe power and the control are finally transmitted to tires 10, therebyenabling travel of the vehicle 2 based on an operation of the driver.Functions of the vehicle control unit 6 are carried out by softwareprograms stored in a storage unit 12. The storage unit 12 furthertemporarily stores various types of data required for the control of theentire vehicle 2. Moreover, the vehicle control unit 6 controls adisplay unit 14 to display GUIs required for operations, and to displaycontrol results. Further, the display unit 14 additionally has afunction of displaying an air pressure abnormality when this abnormalityoccurs, which is described later.

The vehicle 2 has a tire pressure monitoring system installed thereon,and is provided with tire air pressure sensors 16 and internal tiretemperature sensors 18 inside the tires 10. Information detected by theair pressure sensors 16 and the temperature sensors 18 is processed by aprocessing unit 20, is stored in a storage unit 22, and is alsotransmitted via tire communication units 24 to the outside of the tires10. A power supply unit 26 is provided in the tire 10 for supplying therespective components in the tire 10 with electric power indicated bybold arrows. A power source of the power supply unit 26 is anelectret-vibration electric power generation unit 28 which generateselectric power by various vibrations applied to the tire 10 andvibrations caused by rotation of the tire 10. A detailed descriptionthereof is given later.

The electret-vibration electric power generation unit 28 generates an ACbased on the vibration, and a rectification unit 30 rectifies the ACinto a DC, and accumulates the DC in a capacitor 32. The electric poweraccumulated in the capacitor 32 is supplied respectively to the airpressure sensor 16, the temperature sensor 18, the processing unit 20,the storage unit 22, and the tire communication unit 24. It should benoted that the capacitor 32 does not have a capacity for supplying thesecomponents with the electric power for a long period after the powersupply from the electret-vibration electric power generation unit 28stops. If the vehicle 2 is parked while the engine is turned off, thepower supply unit 26 no longer maintains the power supply capabilityunless a vibration is caused from a ground by other vehicles travelingon roads around the parking location. When the vehicle 2 is stationarywhile the engine is running, the electret-vibration electric powergeneration unit 28 can generate some electric power by vibrations of theengine. The storage unit 22 may operate in a volatile mode enabling ahigh-speed operation, and in a non-volatile mode maintaining the memorywithout the power supply, and enters the non-volatile mode according tothe control of the processing unit 20 when the electret-vibrationelectric power generation unit 28 stops the generation of the electricpower, and the voltage of the capacitor 32 decreases below apredetermined voltage, thereby holding the detected information of theair pressure sensor 16 and the temperature sensor 18 stored on thisoccasion, and the state of the processing unit 20 on this occasion.

The tire communication unit 24 transmits the detected information of theair pressure sensor 16 and the temperature sensor 18 directly orindirectly via the storage unit 22 to an in-vehicle communication unit34. The indirect transmission is carried out in a case whereintermittent transmission is desired in order to restrain the electricpower consumption when the electric power supply from theelectret-vibration electric power generation unit 28 is low due to thestationary state of the vehicle 2 or the like. The detected informationof the air pressure sensor 16 and the temperature sensor 18 received bythe in-vehicle communication unit 34 is processed by the vehicle controlunit 6, and is used for analyzing whether the air pressure and thetemperature of the tire 10 are appropriate. The analysis result isstored in a recording unit 36. Relationships between the detection bythe air pressure sensor 16 and the temperature sensor 18 and thetransmission of the detected information from the tire communicationunit 24 to the in-vehicle communication unit 34, and the electric powergenerated by the electret-vibration electric power generation unit 28serving as the power source of those functions, details of theprocessing of the detected information from the air pressure sensor 16and the temperature sensor 18 received by the vehicle control unit 6,and the like are described later.

The vehicle 2 includes a battery 38 and a gasoline tank 40 which serveas energy supply sources to the vehicle function unit 8 for the hybridtravel. The battery 38 and the gasoline tank 40 receive the electricpower and the gasoline respectively fed through a fuel/electricity feedcable 44 to be connected to the fuel/electricity feed station 4 via afuel/electricity feed inlet 42. Moreover, a power line communication(PLC) modem 46 is connected to electric power supply portion of thefuel/electricity feed inlet 42, and the vehicle control unit 6 may carryout the wired power line communication with the fuel/electricity feedstation 4 via a power line portion of the fuel/electricity feed cable44. The vehicle 2 further includes a vehicle short-range communicationunit 48, may thus carry out wireless communication with thefuel/electricity feed station 4, and carries out the communication viathe vehicle short-range communication unit 48 particularly if thefuel/electricity feed cable 44 is not connected.

The fuel/electricity feed station 4 is provided with a stationshort-range communication unit 50 for communicating with the vehicle 2when the vehicle 2 visits the fuel/electricity feed station 4 forfueling or charging. A fuel/electricity feed unit 54 feeds the fuel andelectricity through the fuel/electricity feed cable 44 from a powersource 56 and a fuel reservoir tank 58 to the fuel/electricity feedinlet 42 of the vehicle 2 as described above. On this occasion, when thevehicle 2 is an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, the power linecommunication with the vehicle 2 is carried out using a PLC modem 60connected to the fuel/electricity feed unit 54 through thefuel/electricity feed cable 44.

The fuel/electricity feed station 4 further includes an air supply unit62 for filling the tires 10 of the vehicle 2 with air. Further, thefuel/electricity feed station 4 includes an air pressure sensor 64 fordetecting the air pressure of the tire 10 to which the air is beingsupplied. The air pressure detected by this air pressure sensor 64 istransmitted from a station control unit 52 to the vehicle 2 by means ofthe power line communication or the short-range communication. The tireair pressure detected by the air pressure sensor 64 is reliable. Hence,the air pressure transmitted to the vehicle 2 and the air pressuredetected by the air pressure sensor 16 incorporated into the tire 10 maybe compared, and the detected information of the air pressure sensor 16may be calibrated using the detected information of the air pressuresensor 64 as a reference. A vibration is caused by the air supply duringthe air supply from the fuel/electricity feed station 4, and hence theelectret-vibration electric power generation unit 28 can generate someelectric power even if the vehicle 2 is stationary while the engine isturned off. Accordingly, the air pressure sensor 64 and the air pressuresensor 16 may simultaneously detect the air pressure for the same tire10 to which the air is being supplied, and the obtained values of theair pressure may be compared with each other.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic cross sectional views illustrating adetailed structure and functions of the electret-vibration electricpower generation unit 28 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B respectivelyillustrate different states in terms of vibration. The structureschematically illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B is actually amicrostructure manufactured by means of the MEMS technologies. Adescription is first given of the structure. A plurality of floatingelectrodes 104 are formed into a comb shape (cross sections thereof areillustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B) on a ferroelectric substrate 102 inFIGS. 2A and 2B. The floating electrode 104 is in an electricallyfloating state, namely in a state in which a connection is not made to aground terminal or a power supply terminal. The ferroelectric substrate102 is formed of a PZT plate or BaTiO₃ on a ceramic plate, for example,and usually has a relative permittivity ∈ of 1,000 or more. Moreover,support portions 106 and 108 are fixed on the ferroelectric substrate102.

On the other hand, a movable member (proof mass) 110 is supported byelastic members 112 and 114 between the support portions 106 and 108above the ferroelectric substrate 102 so as to move in the horizontaldirection of FIGS. 2A and 2B. A plurality of opposed electrodes 116 andbase electrodes 118 opposed to the ferroelectric substrate 102 arealternately formed into a comb shape (cross sections thereof areillustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B) on the movable member 110. The opposedelectrodes 116 are respectively connected to an output terminal 120, andthe base electrodes 118 are respectively grounded. Further, a pluralityof electrets 122 opposed to the ferroelectric substrate 102 arerespectively formed on the base electrodes 118. The electret 122 is acharge holding member for stably maintaining a charged negative charge.

In particular, it is important to select an electret which may stablymaintain the charge even in a tire of a vehicle, which may reach 100° C.during traveling, as the electret 122 used for the present invention. Anexample of an electret that meets the requirement is an inorganic chargeholding member having a double-layer structure which is obtained byforming a silicon nitride (such as Si₄N₄) into a thickness ofapproximately 100 nanometers by chemical vapor deposition under theatmospheric pressure on a silicon oxide (such as SiO₂) thermally growninto a thickness of approximately 300 nanometers on a silicon wafer. Theelectret having this double-layer structure is detailed in, for example,“Charge Storage in Double Layers of Thermally Grown Silicon Dioxide andAPCVD Silicon Nitride”, IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and ElectricalInsulation, Vol. 6, No. 6, PP. 852 to 857, December 1999. The chargingof the electret 122 is described later.

When the opposed electrodes 116 and the base electrodes 118 are directlyabove the floating electrodes 104 as illustrated in FIG. 2A in thestructure as described above, the electric flux lines of fringe electricfields 124 are blocked by the floating electrodes 104, and hardly enterthe inside of the ferroelectric substrate 102. This is because theelectric flux line penetrates a dielectric material, and does notpenetrate a conductor material. Conversely, when the movable member 110moves in the horizontal direction with respect to the ferroelectricsubstrate 102, and the opposed electrodes 116 and the base electrodes118 consequently move to positions displaced in the horizontal directionfrom the floating electrodes 104 as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the electricflux lines of the fringe electric fields 124 are not blocked by thefloating electrodes 104, and thus enter deeply into the inside of theferroelectric substrate 102. As a result, a change between the state ofFIG. 2A and the state of FIG. 2B causes the equivalent relativepermittivity ∈r between the electrets 122 and the opposed electrodes 116to change, resulting in a change in capacitance formed therebetween.

On this occasion, the negative charges maintained by the electrets 122are invariant, and hence the change in capacitance between the electrets122 and the opposed electrodes 116 causes the positive charge on theopposed electrodes 116 to move via the output terminal 120, resulting inan output current. Thus, when the movable member 110 vibrates betweenthe positions in FIGS. 2A and 2B due to an external vibration, an AC isoutput from the output terminal 120, resulting in electric powergeneration. A state in which the movable member 110 is displaced by avibration by half a pitch of the floating electrodes 104 is illustratedin FIGS. 2A and 2B for the sake of simplicity. However, when the movablemember 110 moves in one direction by an external vibration in an actualstructure, the movable member 110 may move by several pitches of thefloating electrodes 104, and hence the state illustrated in FIG. 2A andthe state illustrated in FIG. 2B appear repeatedly also when the movablemember 110 moves in one direction. Thus, several cycles of the AC outputis obtained only by the movement of the movable member 110 in onedirection due to a capacitance change caused by this movement. A similarstate certainly appears when the movable member 110 returns. Thestructure described above enables practical electric power generation ifthe surface electric potential due to the negative charge maintained bythe electret 122 is a little less than minus 100 volts. This enables anemployment of an electret which may stably maintain a charge under theabove-mentioned operation condition in which the temperature may reachas high as 100° C., which means that it is possible to realize theelectret-vibration electric power generation unit 28 practically used inthe tires 10 of the vehicle 2.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating a state of acharging process of the electret 122, and the same reference numeralsare assigned to the respective structures of the movable member 110 asin FIGS. 2A and 2B. The charging is carried out before the movablemember 110 is opposed to the ferroelectric substrate 102, and chargesthe electret 122 to a surface electric potential of approximately minus100 volts by disposing a grid 202 to which minus 600 volts is applied,and simultaneously applying 6 kilovolts to a needle 204 on the oppositeside, thereby causing a corona discharge.

FIG. 4 is a basic flowchart illustrating a function of the vehiclecontrol unit 6 of the vehicle 2 according to the example illustrated inFIG. 1. The flow starts when the vehicle 2 is connected to the battery38, and the vehicle control unit 6 checks in Step S2 whether or not theengine (or motor, generally referred to as “engine” throughout thespecification) has started. When the vehicle control unit 6 detects thatthe engine has started, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S4,and checks whether detected data such as the tire air pressure and thetire internal temperature are received from the tire 10 after the start.When the reception of such data is not detected, the vehicle controlunit 6 proceeds to Step S6, and checks whether data detected during thestop of the engine has been received and stored. This is because theelectric power generation by the electret-vibration electric powergeneration unit 28 is carried out by vibrations from the ground causedby other vehicles traveling on roads near the parking location even whenthe vehicle 2 is parking while the engine is turned off as describedbefore according to the example of the present invention, and thedetection of the tire air pressure and the tire internal temperature andthe transfer of the data thereof may have been carried out when theengine is stopped.

When the vehicle control unit 6 determines in Step S6 that the memory ofthe detection during stop is present, the vehicle control unit 6proceeds to Step S8, and enters abnormality detection processing. Adetailed description thereof is given later. Moreover, when the vehiclecontrol unit 6 determines in Step S4 that the detected data such as thetire air pressure and the tire internal temperature has been receivedafter the start, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds directly to StepS8. This means that the data detected after the start is newer than thedata detected during the stop, and the vehicle control unit 6 thusquickly proceeds to the abnormality detection processing regardless ofthe presence/absence of the memory of the detection during stop. Afterthe abnormality detection processing in Step S8 is finished, the vehiclecontrol unit 6 proceeds to Step S10, and checks whether the result ofthe detection processing indicates an urgent abnormality. The urgentabnormality relates to a state in which start or continuation of thetravel causes a high risk of a flat tire. Then, when the result of thedetection processing does not indicate an urgent abnormality in StepS10, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S12, and checks whetherthe vehicle 2 has started. When the start is detected in Step S12, thevehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S14, and when the start is notdetected, the vehicle control unit 6 returns to Step S4, and repeats theprocessing from Step S4 to Step S12 as long as an urgent abnormality isnot detected in Step S10, and the start is not detected in Step S12,thereby preparing for abnormality generation until the start.

On the other hand, when the vehicle control unit 6 detects that theresult of the abnormality detection processing indicates an urgentabnormality in Step S10, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to StepS16, thereby proceeding to start handling processing. The start handlingprocessing in Step S16 is processing of warning the driver of thevehicle 2 by means of a sound or a display that the tire air pressure isdecreased to a level at which the start without taking any measurescauses a danger. The display unit 14 or the like is used for thisdisplay. Moreover, Step S10 precedes Step S12, and hence when thevehicle control unit 6 proceeds from Step S10 to Step S16, the vehiclecontrol unit 6 does not reach Step S12. This means the normal startoperation is inhibited if an urgent abnormality is detected. It may bemore appropriate to travel to the fuel/electricity feed station 4 byitself in a safe operation for refilling the air even in the state of anurgent abnormality than prohibiting the drive, and it is thus possibleto cancel the warning at one's own risk in the start handling processingin Step S16, and to make a request for an interrupt by predeterminedspecial steps/operations, thereby proceeding from Step S12 to Step S14.

When the memory of the detection during stop is not present in Step S6,the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S18, and checks whether apredetermined period of time has elapsed from the start. The arrival toStep S18 means that the detected data was absent after the start in StepS4, and the vehicle control unit 6 checks in Step S18 whether this statehas continued for the predetermined period of time since the start. Whenthe present state corresponds to such an abnormal state, even if theengine has started, and the electret-vibration electric power generationunit 28 can generate the power, the detected data is not received, whichimplies that a certain failure is present in the detection of the tireair pressure, and the vehicle control unit 6 thus proceeds to Step S16.The start handling processing in Step S16 addresses in this way the casein which the tire air pressure itself may not be detected, in additionto the case in which the tire air pressure is abnormal. When the vehiclecontrol unit 6 determines that the predetermined period of time has notelapsed yet in Step S18, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to StepS10, and then proceeds from Step S10 to Step S12 because the abnormalityprocessing is not required. Subsequently, the vehicle control unit 6repeats a loop routing through Steps S4, S6, S18, S10, and S12 whilewaiting for a reception of the detected data.

The abnormality detection processing during the travel is carried out inStep S14. Contents of the processing in Step S14 are the same as thoseof Step S8, and are described later. After the abnormality detectionprocessing in Step S14 is finished, the vehicle control unit 6 proceedsto Step S20, and checks whether the result of the detection processingindicates an urgent abnormality. Then, when the result of the detectionprocessing does not indicate an urgent abnormality in Step S20, thevehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S22, and checks whether thevehicle 2 has stopped. When the stop is detected in Step S22, thevehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S24, and when the stop is notdetected, the vehicle control unit 6 returns to Step S14, and repeatsSteps S14, S20, and S22 as long as an urgent abnormality is detected inStep S20 or the stop is not detected in Step S22, thereby preparing forabnormality generation during the travel.

On the other hand, when the vehicle control unit 6 detects that theresult of the abnormality detection processing is an urgent abnormalityin Step S20, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S26, which istravel handling processing. The travel handling processing in Step S26is processing of warning the driver of the vehicle 2 by means of a soundor a display that the tire air pressure is decreased to a level at whichcontinuous travel without taking any measures causes a danger. When anabnormality is detected during travel, various conditions areconceivable, and hence compulsory processing is thus dangerous on thecontrary. The vehicle control unit 6 leaves specific processing to thedriver, takes a warning action in Step S26, and then immediately returnsto Step S22. The vehicle control unit 6 then repeats a loop routingthrough Steps S14, S20, S26, and S22, and continues the warning untilthe vehicle 2 stops. Step S26 is not limited to the structure describedabove, and may be configured to include an appropriate automatic dangeravoidance action.

The vehicle control unit 6 checks in Step S24 whether the engine isturned off. When the stop of the engine is not detected, the vehiclecontrol unit 6 returns to Step S4, and repeats Step S2 to Step S26 untilthe engine stop is detected. On the other hand, when the engine stop isdetected in Step S24, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S28,issues an instruction to wait so as to be able to receive and storedetected data when the detected data arrives during the engine stop, andproceeds to Step S30. The vehicle control unit 6 checks in Step S30whether the communication with the fuel/electricity feed station 4 isbeing carried out, and this check servers to handle a case in which thestop of the vehicle 2 and the engine is carried out upon the visit tothe fuel/electricity feed station 4. Then, when the communication isdetected, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to fuel/electricity feedstation processing in Step S32, and returns to Step S2 when thisprocessing is finished. On the other hand, when the communication is notdetected in Step S30, the vehicle control unit 6 returns to Step S2, andmay thus check the start of the engine. When the engine start is notdetected in Step S2, the vehicle control unit 6 immediately proceeds toStep S30. Therefore, when the engine is not started, the vehicle controlunit 6 waits for the engine start while repeating Steps S S2, S30, andS32.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a function of the processing unit 20of the tire 10 according to the example of FIG. 1. The flow is startedby detection of the electric power generation carried out by theelectret-vibration electric power generation unit 28, and the processingunit 20 sets the storage unit 22 to a volatile mode, therebyaccelerating the operation in Step S42. The storage unit 22 may operatein the volatile mode in which the high speed operation is enabled, andthe non-volatile mode as described before. At the start of the flow, thestorage unit 22 is in the non-volatile mode and is thus set to thevolatile mode, thereby increasing the operation speed. The processingunit 20 then checks in Step S44 whether detection records by the airpressure sensor 16 and the temperature sensor 18 which are nottransmitted within a predetermined period of time from detection arepresent in the storage unit 22. Then, when there is not such data, thecontrol unit 20 proceeds to Step S46, and checks the charged voltage ofthe capacitor 32, thereby determining whether electric power which maybe used for the detection by the air pressure sensor 16 and thetemperature sensor 18 is accumulated.

When the control unit 20 determines in Step S46 that the electric powersufficient for the detection by the air pressure sensor 16 and thetemperature sensor 18 is accumulated in the capacitor 32, the controlunit 20 proceeds to Step S48, carries out the detection by the airpressure sensor 16 and the temperature sensor 18, stores the tire airpressure and the tire internal temperature detected in Step S50, or, ifthere are stored data, overwrites the data by the tire air pressure andthe tire internal temperature, and proceeds to Step S52. On the otherhand, when it is detected in Step S44 that there are records of the tireair pressure and the tire internal temperature which are not transmittedwithin the predetermined period of time from the detection, the controlunit 20 directly proceeds to Step S52. This is because when there arenew records, those records are to be used soon.

The control unit 20 checks the charged voltage of the capacitor 32 inStep S52, thereby determining whether electric power sufficient for thedata transmission by the tire communication unit 24 is accumulated. Whenthe control unit 20 determines that the transmission is possible, thecontrol unit 20 proceeds to Step S54, and checks whether the detectionsby the air pressure sensor 16 and the temperature sensor 18 are within apredetermined period of time after the detection. When it is determinedin Step S54 that the latest detections by the air pressure sensor 16 andthe temperature sensor 18 are not within the predetermined period oftime, and are thus old, the control unit 20 proceeds to Step S56, andchecks whether the number of the redetections exceeds a predeterminednumber of times. Then, when the number of the redetections does notexceed the predetermined number, the control unit 20 returns to StepS48, carries out again the detection by the air pressure sensor 16 andthe temperature sensor 18, thereby acquiring new data. The control unit20 does not check whether the electric power sufficient for thedetections is accumulated in the capacitor 32 on this occasion, and thisis because it is already determined in Step S52 that the electric powersufficient for the transmission is accumulated in the capacitor 32, andit may be considered that the electric power for the detection issufficient. In this way, as new data as possible is secured before thetransmission.

On the other hand, when the control unit 20 determines in Step S56 thatthe number of the redetections exceeds the predetermined number, thecontrol unit 20 proceeds to Step S58, transmits the existing records ofthe detected data by the air pressure sensor 16 and the temperaturepressure sensor 18, and proceeds to Step S60. This prevents thetransmission from being hindered when the quantity of the electric powergeneration by the electret-vibration electric power generation unit 28is small in such a case that the vehicle 2 is parking or the like, andthe electric power of the capacitor 32 is consumed by repeating only theredetection. When the control unit 20 determines in Step S54 that thetime which has elapsed from the latest detection by the air pressuresensor 16 and the temperature sensor 18 is within the predeterminedperiod of time, the control unit 20 immediately proceeds to Step S58 andcarries out the transmission.

Conversely, when the control unit 20 determines in Step S46 that thecharge of the capacitor 32 is not sufficient for the detections by theair pressure sensor 16 and the temperature sensor 18, or determines inStep S52 that the charge in the capacitor 32 is not sufficient for thedata transmission by the tire transmission unit 24, the control unit 20proceeds directly to Step S60. The control unit 20 checks in Step S60whether the electret-vibration electric power generation unit 28 isgenerating the electric power, and returns to Step S44 when theelectret-vibration electric power generation unit 28 is generating theelectric power. This processing enables the acquisition and thetransmission of the next data when the transmission is carried out, andthe charge may be continued when the charge in the capacitor 32 is notsufficient for the detection or the transmission while waiting until thedetection or the transmission becomes possible. On the other hand, whenthe control unit 20 detects in Step S60 that the electric power is notbeing generated, the control unit 20 proceeds to Step S62, sets thememory unit 22 to the non-volatile mode, and finishes the flow. Thesetting to the non-volatile mode enables the stored data to be used asdescribed above when the flow of FIG. 5 is started again when theelectric power generation is detected next time. Owing to thecharacteristics of the present invention, it is possible to adapt to thecontinuous and intermittent electric power generation by theelectret-vibration electric power generation unit 28, thereby detectingand transmitting the information on the tire air pressure and thetemperature in the tire 10 of the vehicle 2 as described above.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating details of the abnormality detectionprocessing in Steps S8 and S14 of FIG. 4. When the flow starts, thevehicle control unit 6 checks in Step S72 whether data newly receivedfrom the tire 10 is present. When newly received data is present, thevehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S74, accumulates the newlyreceived data in the recording unit 36, and proceeds to Step S76. On theother hand, when newly received data is not detected in Step S72, thevehicle control unit 6 proceeds directly to Step S76.

The vehicle control unit 6 checks absence/presence of unprocessed datain Step S76, and when there is unprocessed data, the vehicle controlunit 6 proceeds to single piece data determination processing of StepS78, and first determines the unprocessed data as a single piece ofdata. Based on this determination, the vehicle control unit 6 thenchecks first in Step S80 whether it is determined that the absolutevalue of the air pressure itself is abnormal in Step S78. When the airpressure is not abnormal, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to StepS82, and checks whether it is determined that a temperature correlationabnormality is present in Step S78. This is because as the tire internaltemperature increases, the air pressure increases. Hence, in theprocessing of Step S82, it is checked whether an abnormality is presentin terms of this correlation. One example thereof is a case in whichthough the air pressure itself is not in an abnormal range, the tireinternal temperature is abnormally high. When there is no abnormality interms of the temperature correlation, the vehicle control unit 6 startschecking correlations among a plurality of pieces of data from Step S84.

The vehicle control unit 6 checks whether a plurality of pieces of dataexist for the same tire 10 in Step S84. The case in which there are aplurality of pieces of data for the same tire 10 includes a case inwhich there are one piece of unprocessed data and data processed priorthereto for the same tire 10, in addition to a case in which there are aplurality of pieces of unprocessed data different in detection time forthe same tire. When there are a plurality of pieces of data, the vehiclecontrol unit 6 proceeds to chronological change determination processingin Step S86. A determination is made of a chronological change in thetire internal temperature in addition to a chronological change in thetire air pressure in chronological change determination processing.Then, the vehicle control unit 6 checks, in Step S88, whether it isdetermined that there is an abnormality in chronological change in StepS86. The case in which there is an abnormality in chronological changeincludes a case in which though single pieces of data are not in anabnormal range, a change of the data is large in a predeterminedinterval for the same tire. When the vehicle control unit 6 determinesin Step S88 that there is no abnormality in chronological change, thevehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S90. If there are not aplurality of pieces of data for the same tire 10 in Step S84, thevehicle control unit 6 proceeds directly to Step S90.

The vehicle control unit 6 checks in Step S90 whether all data for thefour wheels of the vehicle 2 are received in a predetermine period. Whenall the pieces of data for the four wheels are received, the vehiclecontrol unit 6 proceeds to four-wheel cross-check processing in StepS92. Then, the vehicle control unit 6 checks, in Step S94, whether it isdetermined that there is an abnormality in balance among four wheels inStep S92. The case in which there is an abnormality in balance among thefour wheels includes a case in which though single pieces of data of theindividual four tires 10 are not in an abnormal range, a tire 10different in data with respect to the other tires 10 is included or abalance is not appropriate between the front and rear tires 10 orbetween left and right tires 10.

When it is determined in Step S94 that there is an abnormality inbalance among the four wheels in Step S92, the vehicle control unit 6proceeds to abnormality analysis processing of Step S96. When it isdetermined that there is an abnormality in the air pressure in Step S80,in the temperature correlation abnormality in Step S82, or inchronological change abnormality in Step S88, or that not all the piecesof data for the four wheels within the predetermined period of time arenot received in Step S90, the vehicle control unit 6 also proceeds tothe abnormality analysis processing of Step S96 in the respective cases.The abnormality analysis processing in Step S96 handles these variouscases, and details thereof are described later.

When the abnormality analysis processing in Step S96 is finished, theabnormality detection processing of FIG. 6 is finished, and the vehiclecontrol unit 6 returns to Step S10 or S20 of FIG. 4. On the other hand,when it is determined that there is no unprocessed data in Step S76 orthere is no abnormality in balance among the four wheels in Step S94,the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S98 in the respective cases,gives an instruction for display indicating no abnormality, and finishesthe flow.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating details of the abnormality analysisprocessing in Step S96 of the flowchart of FIG. 6. When the flow starts,the vehicle control unit 6 checks in Step S102 whether the entry to theabnormality analysis processing is carried out when the data for thefour wheels within the predetermined period of time is present, and whenall the pieces of data for the four wheels are received, the vehiclecontrol unit 6 proceeds to Step S104 and the subsequent steps. Thevehicle control unit 6 checks in Step S104 whether the entry to theabnormality analysis processing is carried out when there is anabnormality in the air pressure of the individual tires, and theindividual air pressures are at an urgent abnormality level. The urgentabnormality level is, as described above, the state in which start orcontinuation of the travel causes a high risk of a flat tire. When theindividual air pressures are not at the urgent abnormality level in StepS104, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S106, and checkswhether the entry to the abnormality analysis processing is carried outwhen there is an abnormality in the air pressure of the individual tires10, and whether the individual air pressures are at an expresswaywarning level. The expressway warning level implies a state in whichthough travel on a local road does not pause a problem in the meantime,a long distance drive on an expressway generates a risk of a flat tire.

When the individual air pressures are not at the expressway warninglevel in Step S106, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S108,and checks whether the entry to the abnormality analysis processing iscarried out when there is a temperature correlation abnormality. Whenthe entry is not caused by a temperature correlation abnormality, thevehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S110, and checks whether theentry to the abnormality analysis processing is carried out when thereis an abnormality in balance among the four wheels. When the cause ofthe entry does not correspond to this case, the vehicle control unit 6checks in Step S112 whether the entry to the abnormality analysisprocessing is carried out when there is an air pressure chronologicalchange abnormality, and when the cause of the entry corresponds to thiscase, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S114, carries outprocessing of giving an instruction for display of a reduced pressurestate abnormality of the tire air pressure, and proceeds to Step S116.On the other hand, when it is not detected in Step S112 that the entryto the abnormality analysis processing is carried out when there is anair pressure chronological change abnormality, this logically means thatthe entry to the abnormality analysis processing is carried out whenthere is a tire internal temperature chronological change. In this case,the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds from Step S112 to Step S118, carriesout processing of giving an instruction for display of the temperaturechronological change abnormality, and proceeds to Step S116.

On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the entry to theabnormality analysis processing is carried out when individual airpressures are at the expressway warning level in Step S106, when thereis a temperature correlation abnormality in Step S108, or when there isan abnormality in balance among the four wheels in Step S110, thevehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S119 in the respective cases,carries out processing of giving an instruction for display ofexpressway warning, and proceeds to Step S116.

Moreover, when it is confirmed that the entry to the abnormalityanalysis processing is carried out when the data for the four wheelswithin the predetermined period of time is not present in Step S102, orwhen there is an abnormality in the air pressure of the individual tires10, and the individual air pressures are at the urgent abnormality levelin Step S104, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S120 in therespective cases, carries out processing of giving an instruction fordisplay of an urgent abnormality, and proceeds to Step S116. Asdescribed above, in the abnormality analysis processing flow of FIG. 7,the various conditions are classified into “urgent abnormality”,“expressway warning”, “reduced pressure state abnormality”, and“temperature change abnormality” in a descending order of the degree ofemergency, and are determined, and the classified conditions aredisplayed. The vehicle control unit 6 gives an instruction for displayof a specific reason in addition to the classification and determinationin Step S116, and finishes the flow.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating details of the fuel/electricity feedstation processing in Steps S32 of the flowchart of FIG. 4. When theflow starts, the vehicle control unit 6 checks in Step S122 whether thedata of the analysis result of the detected tire air pressure and tireinternal temperature is recorded in the recording unit 36. When thereare records, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S124, andchecks whether an abnormality in balance among the four wheels isrecorded. When a record of an abnormality in balance among the fourwheels is not present, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S126,and checks whether an air pressure abnormality is recorded. Theabnormality in this case includes an abnormality at the high speedwarning level. When a record of the air pressure abnormality is present,the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S128, transmits an airfilling request signal to the fuel/electricity feed station 4, andproceeds to Step S130. This request signal is transmitted whileinformation for identifying a tire 10 having the air pressureabnormality is added. Moreover, when the vehicle control unit 6 detectsin Step S124 that an abnormality in balance among the four wheels isrecorded, the vehicle control unit 6 immediately proceeds to Step S128.In this case, the request signal is transmitted in Step S128 whiledetails of the abnormality in balance among the four wheels is added.When an air pressure abnormality is not recorded in Step S126, thevehicle control unit 6 directly proceeds to Step S130.

The vehicle control unit 6 checks in Step S130 whether the tires 10 arebeing filled with the air by the air feed unit 62, or the air pressureis being inspected at the fuel/electricity feed station 4. When the airis being filled or the air pressure is being inspected, even if theengine is stopped, the electret-vibration electric power generation unit28 is in a state in which electric power may be generated by a vibrationcaused by an air filling/inspection operation. The vehicle control unit6 checks in Step S132 whether detected data such as the air pressureduring the filling of the air or the inspection has been received fromthe tires 10. When the data is received, the vehicle control unit 6receives the tire air pressure measured externally by the air pressuresensor 64 of the fuel/electricity feed station 4 in Step S134, andproceeds to sensor cross-check calibration processing in Step S136. Thevehicle control unit 6 compares the detected result by the air pressuresensor 16 of the tire 10 and the detected result by the air pressuresensor 64 of the fuel/electricity feed station 4 for the same tire 10with each other, thereby calibrating the former detected value accordingto the more reliable latter detected result in the sensor cross-checkcalibration processing in Step S136. The air pressure sensors 16 of thetires 10 may be calibrated each time of the visit to thefuel/electricity feed station 4 in this way, thereby maintaining andincreasing the reliability of the detection.

When the sensor cross-check calibration processing in Step S136 isfinished, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S138. Moreover,when the reception of the detected data from the tires 10 is notdetected in Step S130, or the reception of the detected data by the airpressure sensors 16 of the tires 10 is not detected in Step S132, thevehicle control unit 6 directly proceeds to Step S138. The vehiclecontrol unit 6 checks in Step S138 whether a temperature correlationabnormality is recorded in the recording unit 36. When a record is notpresent, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S140, and thenchecks whether a reduced pressure state abnormality is recorded in therecording unit 36. When the record is not present, the vehicle controlunit 6 proceeds to Step S142, and then checks whether a temperaturechange abnormality is recorded in the recording unit 36. When a recordis not present, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds to Step S144.

On the other hand, when it is confirmed that a temperature correlationabnormality is recorded in the recording unit 36 in Step S138, that areduced pressure abnormality is recorded in the recording unit 36 inStep S140, or that a temperature change abnormality is recorded in therecording unit 36 in Step S142, the vehicle control unit 6 proceeds viatire inspection processing in Step S146 to Step S144. The tireinspection processing in Step S146 is processing relating to an extentfrom a tire inspection request directed to the fuel/electricity feedstation 4 to handling of execution of the inspection. The temperaturecorrelation abnormality, the reduced pressure state abnormality, and thetemperature change abnormality are possibly caused by an abnormalitysuch as a damage of the tire 10 itself, and this inspection processingis thus provided.

Moreover, when it is confirmed in Step S122 that the analysis result isnot recorded in the recording unit 36, the vehicle control unit 6proceeds via detection inspection processing of Step S148 to Step S144.The detection inspection processing of Step S148 includes processing ofrequesting the fuel/electricity feed station 4 for inspection of theelectric power generation function of the electret-vibration electricpower generation unit 28, and the detection function and thetransmission function of the air pressure and the temperature in thetires 10, and processing of handling the execution of the inspection.The absence of the analysis record means that necessary detected data isnot transmitted from the tire 10, and hence the processing of inspectingthe functions relating to the detection in the tires 10 is thusprovided.

The vehicle control unit 6 checks in Step S144 whether the communicationwith the fuel/electricity feed station 4 has been finished, and when thecommunication is not finished, returns to Step S122. As a result, theflow is repeated starting from Step S122, and subsequent various changesin state may be handled. In particular, when the air filling request ismade in Step S128 upon the first flow execution, it is hardlyconceivable that the air filling or the execution of the inspection isdetected immediately after that in Step S130, and the air filling or theinspection of the tires 10 is waited for while repeating the flow ofFIG. 8.

Hereinbelow, a comprehensive description is given of technical featuresdisclosed in the specification.

As one of the technical features disclosed in the specification, thereis provided a vehicle tire including: a ferroelectric member including aplurality of floating electrode portions arranged in a line on onesurface thereof; a movable member including a plurality of electretportions stably maintaining a surface electric potential ofapproximately 100 volts at a temperature of 100° C. and a plurality ofopposed electrode portions, the plurality of electret portions and theplurality of opposed electrode portions being arranged in a linealternately so as to face the plurality of floating electrode portions,the movable member being supported by the ferroelectric member so thatthe plurality of electret portions and the plurality of opposedelectrode portions are moved by an external vibration in parallel to theplurality of floating electrode portions; an air pressure sensorsupplied with electric power generated by the movable member; and awireless communication unit supplied with the electric power generatedby the movable member, for transmitting air pressure data detected bythe air pressure sensor to an outside. As a result, a battery-lessvehicle tire having an air pressure detection function that ispractically used under severe conditions which a vehicle may undergo maybe provided.

As another feature disclosed in the specification, there is provided avehicle tire including an electret-vibration electric power generationunit; an electric power accumulation unit for accumulating electricpower generated by the electret-vibration electric power generationunit; an air pressure sensor supplied with the electric power from theelectric power accumulation unit; a wireless communication unit suppliedwith the electric power from the electric power accumulation unit, fortransmitting air pressure data detected by the air pressure sensor to anoutside; and a control unit for causing at least one of the air pressuresensor and the wireless communication unit to suspend the functionthereof until the electric power accumulated in the electric poweraccumulation unit becomes sufficient. As a result, a vehicle tire whichtransmits the air pressure data to the outside with occasionaladaptation to the electric power generation capability of theelectret-vibration electric power generation unit may be provided.

As a specific feature disclosed in the specification, the vehicle tirefurther includes a storage unit for storing the air pressure datadetected by the air pressure sensor, and the control unit causes thestorage unit to store the air pressure data detected by the air pressuresensor, and the wireless communication unit to suspend the transmissionuntil the electric power accumulated in the electric power accumulationunit becomes sufficient for the function of the wireless communicationunit. As a result, the limited electric power may be distributed interms of time, thereby transmitting the air pressure data to theoutside. As a further specific feature, the control unit causes the airpressure sensor to detect again air pressure if a predetermined periodof time or longer has elapsed from a time of the detection of the airpressure data stored in the storage unit when the electric poweraccumulated in the electric power accumulation unit becomes sufficientfor the function of the air pressure sensor. As a result, useless olddata may be prevented from being transmitted. As a still furtherspecific feature, the control unit causes the wireless communicationunit to transmit the air pressure data without causing the air pressuresensor to detect again the air pressure when a number of redetections ofthe air pressure by the air pressure sensor exceeds a predeterminednumber, even if the predetermined period of time or longer has elapsedfrom a time of detection of latest air pressure data stored in thestorage unit. As a result, when sufficient electric power cannot besecured, it is possible to prevent a state in which the electric poweris consumed only by repeating the detection of the air pressure data andthe transmission cannot thus be carried out. As another featuredisclosed in the specification, the control unit causes the air pressuresensor to suspend the detection of air pressure until the electric poweraccumulated in the electric power accumulation unit becomes sufficientfor the function of the air pressure sensor. As described above,necessary electric power may be accumulated by appropriately suspendingthe functions when the quantity of the electric power generation issmall.

As a further feature disclosed in the specification, there is providedan air pressure management device for a vehicle tire including: avehicle tire supplied with electric power from an electret-vibrationelectric power generation unit, for detecting air pressure, and forwirelessly transmitting air pressure data obtained through detection toan outside; a processing unit for processing the air pressure datawirelessly transmitted from the vehicle tire; and a warning unit forissuing a warning if the air pressure data is not transmitted from thevehicle tire in a state in which the electret-vibration electric powergeneration unit is expected to generate the electric power. As a result,such a state may be avoided, in which an emergency state caused by atire abnormality may not be handled because the tire air pressure itselfmay not be detected. An example of the state in which theelectret-vibration electric power generation unit is expected togenerate the electric power is a state in which an engine of a vehicleis activated, and a vibration of the engine is present. Another examplethereof is a state in which a vehicle is traveling, and a vibration ofthe traveling is present. A still another example thereof is at leaseone of a state in which air is being supplied to the vehicle tire tocause a vibration, and a state in which the air pressure of the vehicletire is being inspected to cause a vibration.

As a still further feature disclosed in the specification, there isprovided an air pressure management device for a vehicle tire including:a vehicle tire supplied with electric power from an electret-vibrationelectric power generation unit, for detecting air pressure, and forwirelessly transmitting air pressure data obtained through detection toan outside; a processing unit for processing the air pressure datawirelessly transmitted from the vehicle tire; and a standby control unitfor waiting a state in which the electret-vibration electric powergeneration unit generates the electric power by an external vibrationeven if an engine of a vehicle is stopped, for the purpose of receivingthe air pressure data transmitted from the vehicle tire even if theengine of the vehicle is stopped. As a result, the possibility ofquickly recognizing an abnormality of the vehicle increases even whenthe operation of the vehicle starts. This is because even when thevehicle is stopped, various vibrations occur around a parking location,and therefore the air pressure may be detected and transmitted using thevibrations.

As a yet further feature disclosed in the specification, there isprovided an air pressure management device for a vehicle tire including:a plurality of vehicle tires each supplied with electric power from anelectret-vibration electric power generation unit, for detecting airpressure, and for wirelessly transmitting air pressure data obtainedthrough detection to an outside; and a processing unit for processing aplurality of the air pressure data originated from a plurality of thewireless transmissions from at least one of the vehicle tires. As aresult, an abnormality of the tire air pressure may be recognized soon.

As a specific feature disclosed in the specification, the processingunit processes a chronological change of the air pressure datatransmitted from the same tire. As a result, it is possible to predictan abnormality in advance when a single piece of the air pressure datais not abnormal thus far but a change thereof occurs rapidly. As anotherspecific feature of the above-mentioned invention, the processing unitprocesses the air pressure data transmitted from a plurality ofdifferent tires. More specifically, the processing unit issues a warningwhen the air pressure data are not transmitted from all the expectedvehicle tires. As a result, it is possible to know an abnormality of thedetection and communication capability, in particular. As a furtherspecific feature of the above-mentioned invention, the processing unitcompares the difference in the air pressure data transmitted from thedifferent tires. As a result, it is possible to predict an abnormalityin advance by comparing the pieces of the air pressure data of theindividual tires even when the pieces of the air pressure data are notabnormal thus far.

As a yet further feature disclosed in the specification, there isprovided an air pressure management device for a vehicle tire including:a vehicle tire supplied with electric power from an electret-vibrationelectric power generation unit, for detecting air pressure, and forwirelessly transmitting air pressure data obtained through detection toan outside; a processing unit for processing the air pressure datawirelessly transmitted from the vehicle tire; and a reception unit forreceiving external data which is obtained by measuring the air pressureof the vehicle tire from the outside. This enables more reliable tireair pressure check. More specifically, the processing unit calibratesthe air pressure data wirelessly transmitted from the vehicle tireaccording to the external data received by the reception unit. In thisway, the reliability of the air pressure detection means in the vehicletire may be maintained or increased according to the external data.

According to the technical features disclosed in the specification, thepractical vehicle tire capable of outputting air pressure informationand the practical air pressure management device for a vehicle tire areprovided as described above.

Industrial applicability of the present invention is now described. Thepresent invention provides the vehicle tire capable of outputting airpressure information, and the air pressure management device for avehicle tire employing this vehicle tire.

While the description is given of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the disclosed invention may be modified in variousways, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the presentinvention may take various forms of embodiments which are different fromthe specific structure described above. The following claims are thusintended to encompass any modifications of the present invention in thetechnical scope thereof without departing from the gist and thetechnical scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless communication device comprising: anelectric power generation unit; an electric power accumulation unit foraccumulating electric power generated by the electric power generationunit; a sensor supplied with the electric power from the electric poweraccumulation unit to output sensed information; a wireless communicationunit supplied with the electric power from the electric poweraccumulation unit, for transmitting the sensed information outputted bythe sensor to outside of the wireless communication device; a controlunit for causing at least one of the sensor and the wirelesscommunication unit to suspend the function thereof until the electricpower accumulated in the electric power accumulation unit becomessufficient for the function of at least the one of the sensor and thewireless communication unit; and a storage unit for storing the sensedinformation outputted by the sensor, wherein the control unit causes thestorage unit to store the sensed information outputted by the sensor,and the wireless communication unit to suspend the transmission untilthe electric power accumulated in the electric power accumulation unitbecomes sufficient for the function of the wireless communication unit,and wherein the control unit causes the sensor to output again sensedinformation if a predetermined period of time or longer has elapsed froma time of the output of the sensed information stored in the storageunit when the electric power accumulated in the electric poweraccumulation unit becomes sufficient for the function of the wirelesscommunication unit.
 2. A wireless communication device according toclaim 1, wherein the control unit causes the wireless communication unitto transmit the sensed information without causing the sensor to outputagain the sensed information when a number of outputting the sensedinformation by the sensor exceeds a predetermined number, even if thepredetermined period of time or longer has elapsed from a time of theoutput of latest sensed information stored in the storage unit.
 3. Awireless communication device according to claim 1 wherein the controlunit causes the sensor to suspend the function thereof while theelectric power accumulated in the electric power accumulation unit isinsufficient for the function of the sensor to output reliable sensedinformation.
 4. A wireless communication device comprising: an electricpower generation unit; an electric power accumulation unit foraccumulating electric power generated by the electric power generationunit; a sensor to output sensed information due to the electric powergenerated by the electric power generation unit; a wirelesscommunication unit supplied with the electric power generated by theelectric power generation unit for transmitting the sensed informationoutputted by the sensor to outside of the wireless communication device;a storage unit for storing the sensed information outputted by thesensor; and a control unit for causing the sensor and the storage unitto start the outputting and storing functions even if the electric poweraccumulated in the electric power accumulation is in an insufficientlevel for the wireless communication unit to transmit the sensedinformation; and wherein the control unit causes the sensor to outputsensed information if a predetermined period of time or longer haselapsed from a time of the output of the sensed information stored inthe storage unit when the electric power accumulated in the electricpower accumulation unit becomes sufficient level.